Project R-13384

Postnatal exposure pathways to soot particles: a focus on breast milk and its impact on cognitive function in the first months of life (Research)

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that ambient air pollution was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2016. We are exposed to numerous air pollutants of which traffic-related air pollution is one of the most important sources. Exposure to black carbon (BC), a component of traffic-related particulate matter (PM), has already been associated with adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes. Several studies showed that BC has the potential to reach various organ systems, including the brain or placenta. BC particles may also be able to transfer to the baby via breast milk. Breastfeeding is known to have many benefits for children. Unfortunately, several studies reported the presence of environmental pollutants in human milk. Most of these studies focused on the presence of chemicals, rather than traffic-related PM such as BC. To close this knowledge gap, we want to investigate the presence of BC in breast milk. Prenatal and postnatal exposures to air pollution can lead to impaired neurodevelopment in early life. As dysfunctional mitochondria play a key role in neurodegenerative diseases, they might be the mediators of impaired cognitive development after exposure to BC. In this project, I aim to, for the first time, investigate exposure routes of BC to the baby. I will focus on whether breast milk is a possible route, in addition to air pollution. I will investigate the effect of BC exposure on early cognition.

01 November 2023 - 31 October 2024